The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1887-05-06

conceded that the feeding of sweet
ensilage will not 'njure the quality Of
the milk or butter and not only that
some dairymen claim that this butter in
winter has the June color as we'll. 1t
must be borne IN mind that nothing
more comes out of the silo than is put
in; it is still green corn, but it is par
TALLY cooked, and thereby rendered
more digestible. As to the Increase in
the yield of milk ty feeding ensilase,
it may be compared to the increase
caused by feeding cows on green corn
in summer when the pasture dries up
or gives out; the effect is at once notice
able. Only the change from dry hay
to sweet ensilage would be greater and
better than from dry pasture to green
corn. On the score of economy there
can be no question, as those who have
silos keep more stock than before, and
say they can keep it in better condition.
From two to three tons of ems; lage is
considered equal to one ton of best hay,
and as 20 to 80 tons of ensilage can be
grown on an acre as easily as 23 tons
Of hay, it is not difficult to s-e how
more stock can be kept per acre. One
acre of good corn put in the silo will
feed cow for one year. How long
will one acre of grass feed her? That
is the easiest way to get at it. Sweet
ensilage, as above described. with the
addition of wheat bran or linseed meal !,
either old or new process, makes u we'll
balanced ration for milk or butter. In
the construction Of the silo it is now
found hat the expensive brick or stone
walls are entirely unnecessary. wooden
silos answering the purpose just as
we'll, and they may be built either
above or below ground as most conven-
lent, or a bay in barn may be partition
ed off and still greater saving made
AS for the weight on the ensilage. none
is really needed; foot of cut straw
placed on the ensilage, and then GOV.
ering of building paper, finished off
with two thicknesses ofinch boards soas
to break joints, is all that is required
A load or two of hay may be thrown on
to make sure, and give more solid
surface to the ensilage In taking out
the ensilage the best plan is to remove
all the covering, and every day take
from the whole surface; this saves all
lifting, as the doors can be made in
two-foot sections, and one after another
taken out as the silo is emptied. If
the silo is very long it is better to have
partitions in it so as to make two or
more smaller pits, and in filling one
can be partially filed and left to heat
up, and ne1t day the next one, so that
the force at work can keep busy. and
not have to change to some other work,
as would have to be done with only one
pit. The loss by molding at the sides
and top IS very trifling if the walls are
made tight; in fact in perfect silo
there should be no loss. The only val
id objection that can possibly be raised
against ensilage is the weight in handl.
ing it. 1t is heavy to haul and heavy
to carry when feeding, but if the silo is
convenient to the feeding alley so the
ensilage can be raked dopn into car
or cart, there will be very little lifting
to be done. And as for hauling, it is
done at comparatively leisure season,
when the ground is usually in good
condition to bear heavy loads.